“Does it matter?” The man sounded tired now, his anger exhaustible after all. “I should have told them about your black heartsglass. Mykaela might have found a way to prevent this. I should have taken you in back in Daanoris. Every time I hesitate, give you the benefit of the doubt, we wind up losing people we both love—Polaire, Daisy, Mykaela… Turn yourself in now, Tea. Let’s end this.”

“I can’t do that. It’s far too late for any of you to stop me.” A grimace shaped her lips, followed by a specter of a smile. “I told you in Daanoris that you would live, Fox. You will find your happily ever after with Inessa. Fate has different plans for me.”

“Enough, Tea!” Lord Fox stepped forward his hand outstretched, but a new figure emerged from the darkness, sword already drawn.

“Step away from her,” Lord Kalen said.

Lord Fox’s hand drifted to the blade on his hip. “Have you both come here only to sack Ankyo and visit Daisy’s grave?”

“And to warn your army not to attack Drycht.”

Lord Fox said, “Aadil is loose. The others have already agreed. We will eliminate his—”

“I will meet you in Drycht if you wish. But your army stays behind. Druj planted traps along Aadil’s borders. You will wade through your comrades’ blood before you reach his mountains.”

“Why not bring me there now?” he challenged. “Surely your daeva will be enough to overcome Druj’s traps.”

“Not yet. I am hunting.” Her eyes narrowed. “Druj prevents me from taking the First Harvest and hides from my thoughts. Even with my strength, the False Prince’s followers still have knowledge of runes that elude me. If I am to continue, I must kill the Faceless first.”

“Then maybe he does the rest of us a favor,” Lord Fox rasped, “if it keeps you from shadowglass.”

Then it was Lord Kalen’s turn to advance on the young general. Lord Fox tensed, his hand gripping his sword’s hilt.

“I will have none of that from either of you.” The Dark asha rose to her feet. “I am leaving, Fox. You can strike me down if you’d like, but I will not turn myself in to anyone from Kion.”

“You attacked Ankyo, Tea!”

“I spared as many of the citizens as I could. Even the elders.”

“Then why…”